Man charged in killing of Trooper indicted for first-degree murder in 2016 death

A Columbus County man charged in the shooting death of NC Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner was indicted by the Columbus County Grand Jury on Thursday morning on a first-degree murder charge for a murder that took place in 2016.

Chauncey Askew, of Chadbourn, was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the 2016 shooting death of Jerome Parrott. According to District Attorney Jon David’s office, Parrott was killed in the Green Acres community of Columbus County.

Askew was ordered to be held without bail and an attorney was appointed to represent him. Askew will not be eligible for the death penalty due to the fact he was under the age of 18 at the time the killing took place, according to court records.

Askew is also charged with the death penalty in the shooting death of NC Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner. Askew does face the death penalty for the killing of Trooper Conner.

Trooper Conner was killed in the line of duty while making a traffic stop in Columbus County. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17th, 2018, Trooper Conner stopped a white GMC pick-up truck for a speeding violation on US 701 near Sellers Town Road in Columbus County. As Trooper Conner approached the vehicle, shots were fired striking the Trooper and he later died of his injuries at the hospital.

Also arrested in the shooting of Trooper Conner is Raheem Davis, who is also from Chadbourn. He was the first to be arrested and is also facing a charge of first-degree murder.

According to records with the NC Department of Corrections, Askew was convicted of felony identity fraud/theft and possession of a firearm by a felon in Cumberland County.